Cotton LEADS™ Program Acknowledged By More Than 100 Textile Businesses

NEW YORK and SYDNEY — March 13, 2014 — Launched in October of last year, the Cotton LEADS™ program continues to resonate with global textile businesses as a supply chain program committed to responsibly-produced cotton. The program emphasizes national capabilities of the cotton industries in Australia and the United States, along with their commitment to continual improvement, research and best practices. Combined, cotton production in these countries accounts for approximately 17% of global cotton production. The Cotton LEADS™ program continues to gain interest among textile businesses committed to responsible sourcing, including the iconic American brand Brooks Brothers.

"The founding members of Cotton LEADS™ program; including Cotton Australia, the National Cotton Council, Cotton Council International and Cotton Incorporated are gratified that so many businesses around the world recognize the ongoing environmental gains made by cotton growers in Australia and the United States," Mark Messura, SVP Global Supply Chain Marketing at Cotton Incorporated.

Currently, more than 100 retailers, brands and manufacturers have joined the Cotton LEADS™ program as partners. The partners recognize the principles of the Cotton LEADS™ program and encourage its efforts toward responsible cotton production and continual improvement.

Partners acknowledge that Cotton LEADS™ cotton, grown under the regulatory environments of Australia and the United States, helps to meet their objectives for responsible sourcing criteria. Among the partners is the brand Brooks Brothers.

Joe Dixon, SVP of Production and Technical Services for Brooks Brothers, explains how the Cotton LEADS™ program fits into their sourcing needs: "Brooks Brothers is enthusiastically committed to sustainable sourcing. Because cotton continues to be a mainstay of Brooks Brothers' product offerings, we require significant amounts of high quality, responsibly-produced cotton fiber. We look to a range of opportunities that, like the Cotton LEADS™ program, can demonstrate best practices, reduced environmental impact, and make a commitment to ongoing improvement and traceability."

The program also emphasizes the environmental gains achieved at a national level within the two current member nations, as well as the national oversight and national capabilities of the cotton industries in the two countries.

The Cotton LEADS™ program is a joint effort of the Australian cotton industry and the U.S. Cotton industry as a project of the Cotton Foundation. Its founding members are Cotton Australia, the National Cotton Council of America, Cotton Council International and Cotton Incorporated. The program is designed to raise awareness of the responsible growing practices and commitment to continuous improvement among cotton producers in the member countries. More information on the Cotton LEADS™ program can be found at: www.cottonleads.org.